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US 4,529,830 AGranted
Apparatus for collecting, distributing and utilizing solar radiation
OwnerMaurice Danielinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The apparatus for collecting, distributing and utilizing solar radiation includes a solar collection panel (24) having an array of solar gathering cells (1, 37) which provide radiation to a light collecting unit (3, 4, 39). This light collecting unit (3, 4, 39) provides radiation as a single beam to a lens system (5, 7) which provides a coherent beam to a lightpipe (8). This beam is then directed to use units such as a light to electricity converter (100, 154), heat distributing elements (202, 213, 230, 244, 270) and light distributing elements (322, 336, and 348).
Claims25
A converter apparatus for generating electricity in response to light received, said converter apparatus comprising:
- (a) a housing structure enclosing at least one compartment;
- (b) solar cell means mounted within said compartment for generating electricity from visible radiation and
- (c) light conducting means connected to said housing structure for conducting light to the interior of said compartment, said light conducting means including a light transmissive surface within said compartment through which visible radiation can escape to impinge upon said solar cell means, said light conducting means including a light conducting fabric means for providing said light transmissive surface, said light conducting fabric means including a plurality of optical fibers each adapted to transmit light along the length thereof outwardly at an angle to the longitudinal axis thereof.
A converter apparatus for transforming light into electricity, comprising:
- (a) a housing structure enclosing at least one compartment
- (b) solar cell means mounted within said compartment for generating electricity from light;
- (c) a light collection means remote from said housing structure for collecting light, said light collection means including at least one radiation gathering means for gathering electromagnetic radiation incident thereon, each said radiation gathering means including a plurality of individual cell structures each of which has a focusing means for focusing electromagnetic radiation incident thereon into a beam of electromagnetic radiation and cell optical window means positioned to receive said beam of radiation;
- (d) light transmission means positioned to receive the beam of radiation from said cell optical window means and operative to conduct said beam of radiation as light to the interior of said compartment in said housing structure;
- and
- (e) a light distribution means within said compartment connected to receive light from said light transmission means and operative to direct said light onto said solar cell means.
3 more elements
A converter apparatus for generating electricity in response to light received, comprising:
- (a) a housing structure enclosing a plurality of separate compartments, said housing structure including light input means for conducting light into said housing structure and electrical outlet means for conducting electricity from said housing structure;
- (b) solar cell means mounted within each of said compartments for generating electricity from light received thereby;
- (c) light distribution means in each of said compartments connected to receive light from said light input means and operative to direct light onto said solar cell means;
- and
- (d) an electrical conducting means connected between the solar cell means in each said compartment and said electrical outlet means for conducting electricity generated by said solar cell means.
2 more elements
A converter apparatus for generating electricity in response to light received, comprising:
- (a) a housing structure enclosing at least one compartment;
- (b) solar cell means mounted within said compartment for generating electricity from visible radiation;
- (c) light conducting means connected to said housing structure for conducting light to the interior of said compartment and including a light transmissive surface means within said compartment through which visible radiation can escape to impinge upon said solar cell means, said light conducting means including an optical tree means secured within said housing structure for receiving and distributing light, said optical tree means having a trunk portion and at least one branch portion extending from said trunk portion into said compartment, said branch portion having an external, light transmissive surface formed thereon adjacent said solar cell means to form said light transmissive surface means;
- and
- (d) a photochemical glass sheet positioned between said branch portion and said solar cell means
2 more elements
A converter apparatus for generating electricity in response to light received, comprising:
- (a) housing structure enclosing at least one compartment;
- (b) solar cell means mounted within said compartment for generating electricity from visible radiation;
- and
- (c) light conducting means connected to said housing structure for conducting light to the interior of said compartment including a light transmissive surface within said compartment through which visible radiation can escape to impinge upon said solar cell means, said light conducting means including an optical tree means secured within said housing structure for receiving and distributing light, said optical tree means having a trunk portion and at least one branch portion extending from said trunk portion into said compartment, said branch portion having an external, light transmissive surface formed thereon adjacent said solar cell means to provide said light transmissive surface, the remaining exterior surfaces of said branch portion and the exterior surfaces of said trunk portion being covered with an internally reflective mirror coating.
1 more element
A converter apparatus for generating electricity in response to light received, thereby comprising:
- (a) a housing structure enclosing at least one compartment;
- (b) solar cell means mounted within said compartment for generating electrictiy from visible radiation;
- (c) light conducting means connected to said housing structure for conducting light to the interior of said compartment including a light transmissive surface within said compartment through which visible radiation can escape to impinge upon said solar cell means, said light conducting means including an optical tree means secured within said housing structure for receiving and distributing light, said optical tree means having a trunk portion and at least one branch portion extending from said trunk portion into said compartment, said branch portion having an external, light transmissive surface formed thereon adjacent said solar cell means to provide said light transmissive surface, said light transmissive surface of said branch portion being tapered within said compartment;
- and
- (d) a grooved optical element positioned between the external, light transmissive surface of said branch portion and said solar cell array.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.